Senior Independence

One of the most challenging issues with an aging family member is whether or not they should drive. As we age, most of have significant decreases in hearing and vision, as well as delayed reflexes. As I argued with my own father, if you complain that you can't see and you can't hear, why are you still driving? Of course, his answer was that if we took away the car, we were taking away his independence.

So, what can you do? First of all, I encourage people to start using public transportation BEFORE they "have to". Now, in many parts of the country, this is no big deal, but in others (such as Texas) we tend to rely on our own cars. Public transportation can be buses or trains, but don't forget about the cabs! Using a debit card (or a gift card- hint, hint) for a taxi service gives many people the independence they want to preserve without be limited by a set schedule or need to get to a specific bus stop or station. Often, regular clients form a working friendship with a specific driver, which creates the feeling of having a personal driver more than "having to take a cab".

BOTTOM LINE: Giving up driving does NOT have to mean giving up your independence!

Memories...like the corner of my...what was that word ?

Okay, have you ever had trouble finding a word? Or how about a name? Why did you walk in the room, anyway? Were you supposed to be checking e-mail, or did you sit down to look at your calendar? And, by the way, where the heck are the keys/remote/charger/phone??
Many of us have what we jokingly refer to as "senior moments". Something basic simply slips out of the grasp of our mind for the moment. Is it dementia? Do we have early onset Alzheimer's disease?

Let me reassure you that MOST of us do NOT. Sadly, there are a few that do. In fact, when my own Mom told me tearfully (when she was a mere 61 years old) that she and my father were concerned that she had Alzheimer's disease- I laughed. Seriously. I laughed, when indeed, I perhaps should have cried.

The truth is that my mother had several medical conditions that all could cause memory loss- and all were correctible. She had thyroid issues, B-12 deficiency, took a medication that caused memory loss and was a bit depressed. ALL of those conditions in and of themselves CAN cause memory loss sufficient enough to look like Alzheimer's disease.

The frustrating thing was that with my Mom, we were able to correct all of those issues, and yet the memory loss progressed.
If YOU have memory loss, PLEASE talk to your doctor about your symptoms. Have a physical and check blood work. Chances are good that you may simply have a medication side effect or a correctible metabolic issue. If, however, you DO have early dementia (such as Alzheimer's), starting medications sooner rather than later will absolutely slow the progression of your disease.

BOTTOM LINE: If you are having trouble with your memory, REMEMBER to schedule an appointment with your doctor TODAY!!

PS. It's the FIRST of the month! REMEMBER to change those AIR FILTERS!!!